Back in July BMW officially announced the starting price for the all-electric i3 EV at $41,350. BMW CFO Fredrick Eichner has now announced that customers have reserved over 8,000 of the little electric vehicles ahead of the official launch in Europe next month.

Eichner said, "If demand holds, which is what it’s looking like, we will soon have to invest more."

BMW has plans to sell 10,000 i3 units next year and previously announced that it would adjust build capacity according to market demand. High initial demand for the i3 is good news for the electric vehicle market overall since demand for electric vehicles continues to be very low compared to traditional and hybrid vehicles.

The BMW i3 will sell for €34,950 in Germany with the cars rolling into dealerships on November 16. BMW plans to launch in the U.S., China, and Japan in the first half of 2014.

Eichner added, "Demand in China and North America continues to be strong. It makes sense for us to think about expanding production capacity in North America."

One of the biggest reasons that many consumers continue to avoid electric vehicles is range anxiety. Owners of electric vehicles fear not having a car to go on longer distance trips. BMW is getting around that concern by offering a $3,950 gasoline engine/generator option that recharges the onboard battery pack.